Ž . International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 70 2000 712 The girl child M.F. Fathalla  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assiut, Egypt Abstract The health of the girl child is a concern for obstetrician-gynecologists. Pediatric gynecologic conditions deserve special attention. The obstetric performance of the adult woman depends in large part on the health and healthcare of the girl child. Gender discrimination against the girl child violates her human rights and adversely impacts on her health and her life. The profession has a social responsibility to advocate for the girl child’s right to health.  2000 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Keywords: Female child; Female infanticide; Female genital mutilation; Sexual abuse and exploitation; Girl education 1. The obstetrician-gynecologist and the health of the girl child Are the health needs of the girl child any different from the health needs of the boy child? The answer is that they should not be so differ- ent, but the sad reality is that they are different. We need to draw a clear distinction between two terms: sex and gender. Biological characteristics identify the sex of an individual as male or fe- male. Gender, on the other hand, is a social construct. Gender is what it means in a particular society to be male or female. There may not be  Fax: 20-88-33-73-33. Ž . E-mail address: mfathall@intouch.com M.F. Fathalla . much difference in biology between a female and a male child; but there is still a wide gender gap between a girl and a boy. Discrimination against a girl child violates her human rights and impacts on her health and her life. Obstetricians and gynecologists have a number of reasons to be concerned about the health of the girl child. Gynecologic conditions in the girl child, though uncommon, are of sufficient impor- tance to justify the sub-specialty of pediatric gy- necology. These conditions range from mild to serious. The condition of ambiguous external gen- italia discovered at birth or diagnosed in child- hood has serious implications for future sexual and reproductive health. The thin vaginal epithe- lium is vulnerable to non-specific infection, and vulvo-vaginitis is not uncommon. Neoplasms of 0020-729200$20.00  2000 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Ž . PII: S 0 0 2 0 - 7 2 9 2 00 00219-8